“Hopefully I can play my way into that starting spot for the rest of the year.”

Taumalolo has been around in Cowboys’ colours for so long it’s easy to forget he’s just 21 years of age.

The former Kirwan High student has been through an eligibility war between New Zealand and Queensland — eventually opting for the Kiwis — and experienced some harrowing times as well, with his former Cowboys Under-20s teammate Alex Elisala passing away in tragic circumstances last year.

But Taumalolo has certainly grown as a player, so much so that Green has started him in the second row for every game this year except against Canberra in Round 11.

He regained his run-on spot for last weekend’s 22-0 win over the Melbourne Storm, with Taumalolo making 165m and sharing a team-best three tackle breaks with Johnathan Thurston and Michael Morgan.

“Greenie’s kept telling me to stay involved looking after Ray Thompson or Johnno (Thurston), so hopefully I do that job the best I can for the rest of the season,” Taumalolo said.

“Attacking-wise I think Greenie’s just been like ‘get the ball and do your stuff’, so he’s kept it really positive for me.

Adding to Taumalolo’s enthusiasm is the close friendship he’s formed with teammate John Asiata, who made his Cowboys’ debut last weekend and is set to play again tomorrow.

The pair first met while playing junior representative football and have now become inseparable mates.

“It was definitely one of the happiest times I’ve ever experienced, having one of my best mates playing beside me out there last week,” Taumalolo said.

“He (Asiata) went out there and did his job and I was really proud of him.

“He’s got that Feleti Mateo type of thing about him, and he’s definitely a first-grader.”